🌳 Plant Once, Harvest for Years: Growing Fruit Trees

There’s something magical about planting a tree. It’s a quiet investment in the future—a bit of patience, a touch of care, and in a few seasons, you’re harvesting sweet, sun-kissed fruit right from your own backyard.

Fruit trees are the heart of a long-term garden. Plant them once, and with just a little annual care, they’ll feed your family, attract pollinators, and offer shade, beauty, and joy for years—even decades—to come.

🍎 Why I Love Growing Fruit Trees

When I first started gardening, I was focused on vegetables and herbs (and I still love them!), but once I planted my first fruit tree, I was hooked. There’s a different kind of satisfaction in watching a small sapling grow into a productive, fruiting tree—one that gives back year after year.

Whether it's a crisp apple in the fall or a handful of summer plums, there’s something grounding about picking fruit you grew yourself.

🍑 What’s Growing in My Garden?

Right now, here’s what’s fruiting (or getting ready to!):

• Apples – I have a dwarf Honeycrisp and a Fuji. They’re crisp, juicy, and store well.

• Plums – A Santa Rosa tree that gives the most fragrant, deep-purple fruit.

• Peach – My Redhaven peach tree is an early summer stunner.

• Fig – Brown Turkey figs—sweet, soft, and perfect fresh or dried.

• Asian Pear – Crisp like an apple, but sweeter and more floral.

• Cherry – A Stella sweet cherry tree that just started producing!

And just for fun (and pollinators):

• Serviceberry – A native shrub that fruits early and is loved by birds.

• Elderberry – Beautiful blooms in spring, berries in late summer—great for syrups and teas.

Every year, these trees get a little bigger, a little stronger, and the harvest gets a little sweeter.

🌿 Planning Your Own Mini Orchard?

Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way:

1. Choose trees suited to your climate and chill hours.

Not all varieties thrive everywhere—do a little research or ask your local nursery.

2. Go for diversity.

Planting different kinds of fruit trees means you’ll harvest across multiple seasons and reduce pest/disease pressure.

3. Think size.

Dwarf and semi-dwarf trees are great for small spaces—and they fruit earlier!

4. Pollination matters.

Some trees (like apples and pears) need a partner nearby to fruit. Check if your tree is self-pollinating or not.

5. Be patient and prune wisely.

Most trees need a couple of years before they produce. But proper pruning early on sets them up for long-term health and productivity.

🍐 Fruit Trees Are a Gift to Your Future Self

There’s a quote I love:

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Planting a fruit tree is more than just gardening—it’s an act of hope. It’s a quiet promise that you’ll be there to enjoy the fruits of your labor. And trust me—biting into that first homegrown apple makes every minute worth it.

🌱 What’s Growing in Your Garden?

Do you have fruit trees in your yard? Are you planning to plant any this year? I’d love to hear what you’re growing!

📸 Share your orchard (big or small!) with me on social @FoodForestUtah so we can follow each other’s growing journeys.

Whether it’s one container fig on a balcony or a whole backyard orchard—planting fruit is a gift that keeps giving. 🍎🌳